‘Cabrini’ Producer on Future of Faith-Based Films

Producer Jonathan Sanger with Actress Cristiana Del’Anna (as Mother Cabrini), and associate producer M. Jones on the set of the movie "Cabrini". Courtesy of Cabrini Films and Angel Studios. Photo by M. Jones

When Hollywood producer Jonathan Sanger became involved with the movie “Cabrini,” he was concerned that audiences would have trouble identifying with a literal saint.

“I was wary mainly because I like to make movies about real people who others can relate to and I wasn’t sure that the saintness of Mother Cabrini was something that would be relatable,” he said.

The three-time Academy Award winner had nothing to worry about. After the movie was released on March 8, it grossed $20 million worldwide.

Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, Cabrini is based on a true story about an Italian immigrant named Frances Xavier Cabrini trying to provide housing and healthcare for hundreds of orphaned children trapped in the slums of New York. Ms. Cabrini, who died in 1917, was the first American citizen to become a Catholic saint.

“This woman did extraordinary things with very meager resources,” Mr. Sanger said. “That fascinated me. I really liked that and it made me interested in every way.”

The British Academy Film Award winner began his film-producing career in 1980 with “Elephant Man,” about facing physical disabilities with power. Since then, he’s executive-produced and produced “The Others,” starring Nicole Kidman, “Mission: Impossible II,” starring Tom Cruise, and “Marshall,” starring the late Chadwick Boseman, and other films.

“I care about movies that are inspiring and that bring people to a new understanding of life,” he said.

Although he had plenty of experience with mainstream distributors, “Cabrini” marked the first time Mr. Sanger worked with Angel Studios, which is known for faith-based content such as the TV series “The Chosen” and “Dry Bar Comedy.” Faith-based is a description of content referring to film and tv shows affiliated with or supported by a particular religion or religious group. 

In "Cabrini," Jonathan Sanger plays a member of a group of financiers who Mother Cabrini pitches to support a hospital she wants to establish. Photo by David Giesbrecht. Courtesy of Cabrini Films and Angel Studios

“We were offered distribution deals from three other major studios that have been around for a long time, but their plans for distribution were very traditional,” he said.

Instead, the producers opted for Angel Studios because the Harmon brothers were particularly excited by the film. 

Jeff Harmon co-founded Angel Studios in Utah with his brothers, Neal and Jordan, in 2021.

“Their plan for the distribution of Cabrini and their understanding of the movie was better than the other people who were talking to us and we liked the way they thought about the value of movies that not only entertain, but also enlighten,” Mr. Sanger said.

The Harmon brothers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but their Mormon-faith doesn’t limit their artistic senses.

“Our personal character influences the company, of course but we have very diverse leadership and company as far as beliefs, and religions from all over the world have joined us because our mission is to amplify life,” Mr. Harmon told The Epoch Times. “It’s not restricted to any specific faith.”

If the development of the biblical-epic drama “House of David” is any indication, faith-based films and TV shows are here to stay. Prime Video announced production is underway in Greece. The series is based on the rise of the biblical icon, King David, and is the first project from Amazon MGM Studios and The Wonder Project.

“It’s rare and it’s new and it’s definitely tapping into the zeitgeist in a way that we haven’t seen before,” Mr. Sanger said. “It’s a marketing thing. [Amazon MGM] wouldn’t be doing it if there wasn’t an audience out there that wanted it.”

The Wonder Project studio caters to faith- and values-oriented audiences.

Mr. Sanger attributes audience interest in faith-based content to people needing something to believe in during turbulent times.

“We look at the news and see what’s happening around the world, and it can be very, very defeating,” he said. “It can bring you down. Faith-based films are intended to enlarge the human spirit, not diminish it.”

Although he doesn’t mind the faith-based label, Mr. Sanger doesn’t consider “Cabrini” to be a faith-based film because it also appeals to secular and mainstream audiences.

“I’ve done a lot of movies and I tend to gravitate towards stories that have a level of hope,” he said. “I don’t think of them as religious in a traditional way. I think of them in a more universal way and if they’re inspiring to people, then I’ve done my job.”

Out of the ten films Mr. Sanger has in development, seven could be categorized as faith-based productions. Among those films is “Flyers,” about Wilbur and Orville Wright who invented the airplane. However, no religious content is directly connected to the story, which is set in the early 1900s.

“Flyers is extremely emotionally satisfying,” Mr. Sanger said. “The father of these two young guys was a priest and he believed in what they were doing and supported it but the story itself is really about an inspiring moment in American history.”

“Flyers” is in the script stage and being reviewed by financiers and distributors. Although “Cabrini” was partly filmed in Buffalo, New York and Italy, Mr. Sanger anticipates filming in Georgia.

“New York State has a great benefit for filming,” he added. “It’s 40 percent on all costs and that makes it very attractive if the project fits the locations there.”